Door latch



Dec. 13, 1955 R. R. TEETOR 2726890 DooR LATCH Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 13, 1955 R R, TEETOR 2,726,890

DOOR LATCH Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Unite The invention relates generally to door latches and more particularly toa door latch of the type adapted to be controlled by a manually operable member.

The general object of the invention -is to provide a novel'door latch which effects a positive latching engagement with its keeper and has a smooth easy action on opening or closing the door.

Another object is to provide a novel door latch having a catch member adapted to be carnmed past the keeper both on opening and closing the door and constructed so thatv there is no binding or undue frietion resulting from the camming action, which would hinder the movement of the catch member.

A further object is to provide a novel door latch which may be operated by a manually movable member adapted to be actuated by a push or pull movement in the direction ofmovernent of the door.

Still another object is to provide a novel door latch ot' the foregcing character, which may be inexpensively manufactured.

A still further object is'to provide a novel door latch .engageable with its keeper in such a manner that swelling or shrinkage of the door during different Seasons of .the year will not vary tightness with which the door is held closed;

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a door latch embodying the features of the invention and showing. the parts in the position they occupy when the door is closed..

Fig. 2 is a view of the edge of the door at .the latch as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional' view taken on the 'line 3- 3 of Fig. 1.

Pig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1V but showing the parts of the latch during opening movement of the one of various types but for purposes of illustration,

the'manually operable member in the present instance comprisesa push-pull device providedwith grasping members such as hnobs.

Generally described, a door latch embodying'the featureszofthe invention comprises a tubular casing adapted to'be mountedon. the door and in the present instance the tubular casing is shown as being positioned within a tates Pare Gil "ice

mortise extending inwardly from the side edge of the door. Within the casing is a catch member adapted to extend from the outer end of the casing for engaging a keeper mounted in the adjacent door frame. The catch member is pivotally supported by a slide arranged for longitudinal movement within the casing. To hold the catch .member in engagement with the keeper and thus maintain the door closed, a latch member is pivotally mounted within the casing and is provided with a portion engageable with the catch member to holdit in engagement with the keeper. To permit opening of theV door, the latch member is adapted to be swung by the manually operable means so that the former is disengaged Vfrom the catch member to permit movementV thereof.

Spring means is provided within the casing, which tends to hold the catch member in its position extending from the edge .off the door. When the latch member is -disengaged from the catch member, opening movement of the door causes the catch .member to swing inwardly of the casing to pass the keeper. When the door is to be closed,the latch member is in engagement with the catch member and the camming action of the keeper against the catch member causes the latter, together With the slide, to move inwardly of the door so that the catch member can pass the keeper. When the door is fully closed, the spring means then forces the catch' member and slide outwardly of the casing to effectrengagement of the catch member with the keeper.

in the drawings, the door frame is fragmentarily indicated at 19", and the door is shown at 11, theIedgeof the door being indi'cated .at 12. The door frame -is provided with a generally rectangular mortise. 13 andoversnch mortise is mounteda keeper '14 provided with arectangular apert'ure 15 .through which. .the catch member may project.

The latch comprises a casing 20 which preferably vis in the form of a tube of substantially Vrectangular crosssection. At its outer end the casingV 20 is provided with a face plate 21 which extendslaterally beyond the perim'- e't'er of the casing 29 and is adapted to be secured yto the edge of the door as by screws 22. Within the-casing there is a slide indicated generally at23 .and shown -in perspective in Fig. 6. The slide 23 is in the form'of an elongated channel shaped member transversely dimensioned so that it fits snugly within the casingbut iszfree to slide easily therein. To lighten the slide, portions= of the flanges thereof are removed a`s at 24 and1a punching 25'is formed in its web portion.

Pivotally mounted within .the slide 23 is a catch .member indicated generally at 26, with the latter adapted' to extend from. the outer end thereof beyond the edge of the' door so `as `to engage the keepe'r .platelttV Thecatch member 26 is generally` triangular in form and has a width such that it may fit between theV flange portions ofv the slide 23 so that it may freely swing therebetween. The catch member 26 is pivotally mounted in the .slide 23 by means of a pin 27 extending through the Vcatch member atone side thereof and into the flange portions `of the slide23. Thecatch member is slotted'at'itsinner face, as indicated at 30, and av wider'. slot-is cut in the catchv member, asV indicated at 31' at the side op'p'osite of thev pivot 27, the slot 3'1- extendinggenera'lly' longitudinally of the casing and transversely to the slot 30. 'Ihecatch member 26 also includes' a pair of lugs 32 on its side opposite the pivot 27. The lugs 32 are adapted, in one position of the catch member, to extend into' a slot-33 provided in the web portion of the slide 23, with the lugs32 engageable with the outer margin of the' slot 33 to' limit the swinging movement of the catch member in' one direction. The lugs 32 and the' mar'gin ofv7 the slot 33 thus'constitute interenga'gingparts on'` 'the slide movement of the catch member.

The present door latch also includes a latch member, indicated generally at 34, mounted within the casing and partially nested Within the slide 23. Preferably the latch member 34 is of generally channel shape with the web portion Vextencling at its outer end to provide a tongue 35 engageable with the catch member 26 to prevent inward swinging movement thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described. The latch member 34 is lpivotally supported within and by the slide 23, a pin 36 extending through the flange portions of both the latch member and the slide for this purpose.

. The flange portions of the latch member also extend inwardly of the casing to embrace a spindle supporting f sleeve 37 mounted in and extending transversely through the door. Mounted within the sleeve 37 'is a longitndinally movable spindleV 40 which is provided with a cross pin 41 engaging at its ends against the side edges of the extended flange portions of the latch member 34. The spindle 40 is longitudinally movable to swingthe latch member 34 and Van elongated slot 42 `is provided in the spindle sleeve 37 to permit movement of the cross pin 41.

The spindle sleeve 37 is of'suflicient length to extend beyond the two faces ofV the door and is threaded at its outerrends to receive escutcheons 43 which clamp the spindle sleeve 37 in fixedlposition relative to the door. The spindle 40 at both ends extends beyond the sleeve '37 to provide for attachment of manually operable members which are herein shown as knobs 44. In the present -instance, the escutcheons 43 are countersunk' to receive the shank portions of the knobs 44 but a space 45 is provided therein to permit movement of the knobs and The spring means for resisting pivotal movement of the latch member 26 as well as inward sliding movement of the slide 23 and the catch member 26 comprises a compression spring mounted on a rod'51. The rod 51 and spring 50 extend generally longitudinally of the casing, and the'rod at its outer end is pivotally secured to the catch member 26 within the notch 30 by a cross pin 52, the latter being mounted in the face portions of. .thecatch provided, by the slot 30. The spring 50 bears against a collar 53 mounted on the rod 51 and engaging Vthe cross pin 52 to limit movement thereof.

The other or inner end of the rod 51 is slidably mounted in an L-shaped'bracket 54 secured to the adjai Vcent side of the casing 20 as by screws 55. The adjacent end of the spring 51 abuts against the bracket 54 which thus provides a fixed abutment for the spring.

. The spring means tending to swing the latch member 34:.into engagementV with the catchl member 26, in the present instance, comprises a leaf spring 56 interposed .betweenthe web portions of the latch member 34 and the 'slide 23 and bearing against the tongue 35 of the `latch member to swing it about its pivot pin 36.

When the door is closed, the parts of the latch occupy the positions. shown in Fig.V 1. In Vthis condition the slide 23 and the catch member 26 are heldrin their outermost position by the spring 50. Thus the latter holds i the lugs 32 on the catch member in engagement With the Vmargin of thelslot 33, and the force of the spring Vthus is exerted to holdthe slide in its outermost position in engagement with an inwardly extending flangeV portion 60v formed along three Vsides of the opening in lthe face plate 21 to limit outward movement of the slide as well as the catch member 26. In this position, one sidersurfacc of the catch member, indicated at 61, extends perpendicularly to the keeper 14 to hold the door closed. Because of such perpendicular position when the door is closed, shrinkage of the door relative to the door frame will not aifect the engagement between the catch member and the keeper and the door will be held fully closed regardless of the amount of shrinkage.

Also, in this position of therparts, the leaf spring 56 holds the latch member 34 swung to such position that the tongue 35 engages the side portions Vof the latch member 26, as indicated at 62 in Fig. 1. The pressure of the leaf spring 56, acting through the latch member 34, also shifts the spindle 40 so that the clearance 45 is at the side of the door shown. The engagement of the tongue 35 with the side portions of the catch member 26 prevents inward swinging movement of the catch member and thus holds the latter'V in engagement with Vthe keeper to prevent movement of the door.

tongue, thus permitting swinging movementof the catch member. Continued pressure on the door through the knobs 44 in the same drection forces the surface 61V of the catch member against the adjacent edge of the opening 15 in the keeper plate 14, thereby swinging the latch member about its pivot pin 27 in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. When the catch member 26 has been swungV inwardly of the casing far enough to pass the keeper, the door, of course, may swing open wide. is opened and the knobs 44 are released, the spring'SO swings the catch member 26 outwardly again, and the leaf spring 56 thereupon swings the latch member 34 so thatV its tongue 35 engages the catch member to hold the latter against swinging movement.v The force of the spring 56 also shifts the spindle 40 to the position in Fig. l.

On closing the door, the pressure on the knobs 44 is in a drection which will not swing the latch member 34 so that'the tongue 35 remains in holding 'engagement with the catch member 26. When the door is Vswung suificiently for the catch member 26 to engage the keeper, the latter efiects a camming action thereon by engaging against a curved or slanted edge surface 63 constituting an outer face of the catch member. Such camming action of the keeper Vagainst the catch member the adjacent side of the casing 20 and Vcreate undue. friction therebetween unless the catch was held against such movement. In the present nstance the catch is so held by virtue of the engagement between the lugs 32 and the margin of the slot 33.V The catch member is thus prevented from being forced against the side of the casing so that no undue friction is produced, which Would hinder the movement of the parts. However, the camming action of the keeper against the slanted face 63 of'the catch forces both the catch and slide bodily inward ofv the casing, as indicated in Fig. 5, to permit the catch to pass the keeper. Such inward movement of the catch and slide is resisted by the spring 51 since its inner end is held in fixed position by the bracket 54 and its outer end engages the collai' 53 on the rod 51, which in tum is in abutment with the cross pin 52. The latch member 34 is also carried inwardly with the inward movement of the slide but, since the leaf spring'56 is' interposed between the latch member and the slide, the relative posi-V tions thereof are not changed and the tongue 35 remains in engagement With the catch member 26.

After the door egrafeseo Whenthe door is fully closed so that' the surface 61 of the catch member has passed beyond the' margin of the slot 15 in the keeper, the spring 50 then forces the catch member and' the slide outwardly of the` casing to effect engagement. of the Vcatch member with the keeper :aszshown inFig. 1.

'From the foregoing it will be evident that I have pro- 'vided a novel door latch which effects a positive latching engagement with its keeper and has a smooth easy action on opening or closing the door. Since the lugs 32 engage the margin of the slot 33 to prevent swnging movement of the catch member in the direction which the keeper tends to force it on closing the door, no undue friction or binding occurs between the catch member and casing, and the slide together with the catch member are easily forced bodily inward of the casing by the camming action of the keeper. The elongated form of the slide prevents tilting movement thereof during such camming action so that it will move easily Within the casing under the forces developed during the closing action of the door. The fact that the surface 61 on the catch member extends perpendicularly to the keeper prevents any shrinkage or swelling of the door from varying the tightness with which the door is held closed. Also the relation of the pivot 27 of the catch and the point of contact of the surface 61 With keeper provides an effective pivotal action to permit the door to be easily opened.

I claim:

l. A door latch comprising an elongated casing adapted to extend inwardly from the edge of the door, a slide mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally thereof, a catch member normally extending beyond the casing for engaging a keeper and pivoted in the slide at one side thereof, releasable means for holding said catch member against inward swnging movement, said catch member being adapted to be swung inwardly by the keeper on release of said means and on opening the door,

said slide and said catch member having interengaging' parts at the other side of the slide preventing outward swnging movement of the catch member whereby the slide and catch member are forced bodily inward of the casing by the keeper on closing the door, and spring means bearng against said catch member at a point between the pivot of the catch and said interengaging part on the catch and tending to prevent the catch member from swnging and moving bodily inward of the casing.

2. A door latch comprising an elongated casing adapted to extend inwardly from the edge of the door, a slide mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally thereof, a catch member pivotally mounted in the outer end of the slide and normally extending beyond the edge of the door for engaging a keeper, and a manually operable member mounted in said casing and engageable with said catch member to prevent inward pivotal movement thereof to hold the catch in engagement with the keeper and being swingable outwardly from said catch member to permit said catch member to be swung inwardly by the keeper to clear the keeper when said manually operable member is moved out of engagement therewith and the door is opened, said slide and said catch member having interengaging parts preventing the keeper from swnging the catch member relative to the slide on closing the door whereby the keeper will force the slide and catch member bodily inward of the casing, said interengaging parts on the catch comprising a pair of lugs located at the respective sides of said manually operable member to provide space between the lugs for the swinging movement of said manually operable member.

3. A door latch comprising an elongated casing adapted to extend inwardly from the edge of the door, a slide mounted in said casing 'for movement longitudinally thereof, a catch member pivotally mounted in the outer end of the slide and normally extending beyond the edge of the door for engaging a keeper, releasable means for 6 holdingv said catch member against inward 'swnging movement, said-catch memberbeing' adapted to be'lswnng inwardly by the keeper on: release vof said: meansand on openingfthe door, said slide: and said catch' member having interengagng parts 'preventing outward swnging movement of the: catch .member whereby the keeper `forces the slide and catch, member bodily .inward-of the easing-on closing the door, and` spring means Vinterposed between and engaging said casing and said catch member and resisting inward swnging movement of the catch member on opening the door, the engagement of said interengaging parts holding said catch rigid With said slide whereby said spring means also resists the inward movement of the slide and catch member on closing the door.

4. A door latch comprising an elongated casing adapted to extend inwardly from the edge of the door, a slide mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally thereof, a catch member pivotally mounted in the outer end of the slide and normally extending beyond the edge of the door for engaging a keeper, releasable means for holding the catch member against inward swnging movement, said catch member being adapted to be swung inwardly by the keeper when said means is released and on opening the door, said slide and said catch member having interengaging parts preventing outward swnging movement of the catch member whereby the keeper forces the slide and catch member bodily inward of the casing on closing the door, and a compression spring secured at its inner end to the casing and at its outer end to said catch member and resisting inward swnging movement of the catch member on opening the door and resisting the inward movement of the slide and catch member on closing the door.

5. A door latch comprising a casing, a slide mounted in said casing for movement inwardly from the edge of the door, a catch member pivotally mounted inV said slide and normally projecting beyond the edge of the door for engaging a keeper, said catch member being swingable inwardly of the casing by the keeper on opening the door, and said slide and said catch member being movable bodily inwardly of the casing by the keeper on closing the door, interengaging means on said slide and said catch member to prevent outward swnging of the catch member, a manually operable latch member pivotally mounted in the slide and having a tongue normally engaging the catch member to prevent inward swnging movement thereof, said catch member being slotted to receive the tongue to permit the catch member to swing past said tongue when the latter is swung out of engagement with the catch member, the slotting of said catch forming a pair of lugs constituting said interengaging means on the catch.

6. A door latch comprising an elongated casing generally rectangular in cross-section, a channel shape slide mounted in said casing, a catch member pivotally supported in said slide by the flange portions of the slide, said catch member normally projecting from the casing to engage a keeper, said slide being slotted in its Web portion and said catch member having a pair of lugs received in said slot and engageable With the outer margin of said slot to prevent outward swnging movement of the catch member, releasable means for holding the catch member against inward swnging movement, said catch member being swingable inwardly by the keeper When said means is released and on opening the door, and said slide and said catch member being movable bodily inward by the keeper on closing the door.

7. A door latch comprising a tubular casing adapted to extend inwardly from the edge of the door, a slide mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally thereof, a catch member pivotally mounted at one side thereof in the outer end of the slide and normally extending beyond the edge of the door for engaging a keeper, releasable means for holding said catch member against in- '7 ward swinging movement, said catch member being of the Vlatter and tending to hold lsaid interengarging parts ;adapted'ot be swung inwardly by the keeperl on release in engagemefiflof 'said means and' on opening the door, said slide and i i said catch member having interengaging parts at the op- References clted m the file of thls patent posite side of the catch member to prevent outward 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS swinging movement of the catch member, and spring i 162,272 Colby API- 20, 1875 means having one end fixed to said casng and its other i 688,001 Mills V Dec.` 3, '1901 end secured'to said catch member intermediate said sides 2,428,401 Waller `Oct.f7, 1947 

